§ Commander OLIVER LOCKER-LAMPSON(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he could make a statement respecting the evacuation by the British representatives and others from Kabul?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Earl Winterton)I have been asked to reply. I am glad to say that the evacuation of the last remaining members of the staff of the British Legation was successfully effected yesterday. Sir Francis Humphrys, in paying a warm tribute to the remarkable smoothness and efficiency with which the Royal Air Force have carried out this arduous undertaking, has telegraphed as follows:
The Royal Air Force have performed an historic achievement. They have conveyed 586 persons in 82 aeroplanes without a single mishap to passengers since the 23rd December, over mountainous country in the depths of winter at an average height of 10,000 feet. Conditions have always been difficult and for the last
§ two days almost insuperable on account of the heavy fall of snow."
§ I am sure the House will cordially endorse this tribute. In the early stages of the operations, the aircraft which first established touch with the Legation were repeatedly under fire and one machine was shot down over Kabul, though its pilot was fortunately unhurt and has since rendered Sir Francis Humphrys invaluable assistance. The Royal Air Force personnel engaged have throughout flown over this wild border country unarmed. Recently, owing to the extreme severity of the weather conditions, with very low temperatures prevailing, accompanied by heavy snowfalls, the task of all concerned has been rendered exceptionally difficult and dangerous, alike in the air and on the ground. One machine had a forced landing through the engine actually freezing up whilst in flight and its two occupants were for some clays in the hands of tribesmen, though subsequently successfully evacuated by air.